Folding table.



E. WORKMAN.

FOLDING TABLE.

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921,495. Patented May 11. 1909.

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B. WORKMAN. FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1000.

921,495. Patented May 11, 1909.

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@QXQQ EBB WORKMAN, OF NEW MARTINSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1909.

Application filed July 22, 1908. Serial No. 444,789.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EBB WORKMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Martinsville, in the county of Wetzel, State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to folding tables, and has for one of its objects to simplify and improve the construction and increase the efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to rovide a simply constructed device of this 0 aracter of increased strength and durability and without increased cost of manufacture or weight of material.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fi ure 1 is an end elevation partly in section, of the improved device, Fig. 3 is a plan view with a portion of the top broken away to illustrate the arran ement of the supporting legs, Fi s. 1, 2 and 3 representing the improved evice in open position. Fi 4 is a ottom plan view of the device folded. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the device folded as in Fig. 4.

The improved device comprises a table top 10 having a plurality of spaced transverse cleats 11 attached to the under face and with spaced tie rods 12-13 extending throu h the cleats, the tie rods bein also space from the under face of the tab e top 10. The supporting legs are arranged in spaced pairs crossing each other one pair of legs re resented at 14-15 and the other pair of egs re resented at 16-17. The legs are conneote at their crossing points by a tie rod 18, the tie rod being threaded at the ends and provided with stop collars 19-20 bearing against the inner faces of the legs and with nuts 21-22 upon the outer ends of the rods and bearing against the outer faces of the legs, as shown.

The legs 14-17 are coupled by diagonal braces 23-24, while the legs 15-16 are coupled bydiagonal braces 25-26. The

ig. 2 is a side elevation braces 23-24 are coupled to the legs 14-17 near their ends and at opposite sides of the tie rod 18, while the diagonal braces 25-26 are coupled to the legs 15-16 at one side only of the rod 18, so that when the legs are in open position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the upper ends of the braces 25-26 form stops to the legs 14-17 and assist in holding them in open position, as hereafter explained. The legs 15-16 are also hinged at 27 28 to the top 10 contiguous to the tie rod 12 of the cleats 11, while the free ends 29-30 of the le s 14-17 bear against the inner face of the ot er tie rod 13 of the cleats 11, as shown in Fig. 1. By this simple means when the legs are distended as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the spaced pair of legs are firmly supported by t e rod 18 and the diagona braces 23-24 and-25-26, and the table top supported in horizontal position by the crossed legs hinged at one end thereto and bearing at their other ends beneath the tie rod 13, as shown. The table top is thus firmly and rigidly supported, and will not be displaced b any weight which may be placed thereon. l hen thus arranged in open position the crossed legs are supported from being collapsed by the pressure exerted by the tie rod 13 and likewise bearing upon the upper terminals of the diagonal braces 25-26, as before stated. A two-fold sup ort is thus provided for the supporting egs to prevent them from becoming accidentally displaced. or from collapsing.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 1 that the hinged terminals of the members 15-16 are formed to present a flat surface against the tie rod 12 when in open position while the upper ends of the leg members 14-17 are arranged to bear partly beneath the tie rod 13, this arrangement materially increasing the rigidity of the joint between the table top and the legs and correspondingly increasing the stiflness and rigidity of the whole structure when in use, and enabling the crossed legs and their connections to remain in 0 en position when the table is moved bo ily from place to place. This is an important feature of the invention and adds materially to its value and efficienc as the table will not collapse when moved fiom place to place when in 0 en position. And then when not in use the egs can be folded in substantially parallel relation to each other and fiatwise against the under side of the table top as shown in *Figs. 4 and 5.

The table to ortion may be of any required size an' tlie supporting structure of corresponding size and it is not desired therefore to limit the invention to any particular size or relative proportion of the materials.

The improved device Will be found very convenient for picnic parties, for the use of tradesmen in distributing goods either in the stores or in the streets, for market gardeners and dealers in other commodities and the like.

\V hat is claimed, is r- A folding table comprising a top having a plurality of transverse cleats s )aced apart, tie rods spaced apart and cxten ing through said cleats and spaced from said top, crossed legs at each end of said. table to the upper ends of the legs inclined to the fongitudinal planes thereof and bearing against the under face of the table top, a tie rod coupling said legs at their crossing points, and hlnges connecting one of each crossed pair of legs to said table top near one of said tie rods With 2. A folding table comprising a top having a plurality of transverse cleats spaced apart, tie rods spaced apart and extending through said cleats and spaced from the table top, legs arranged in crossed pairs at each end of the table top, a tie rod coupling the pairs of :zv

legs at their crossing points, one leg of each pair hinged to the tab e top and each with an angular face near the hinges and bearing against the adjacent cleat tie rod, the free ends of the other legs hearing against and partly above the other cleat tie rod.

In testimony whereof, l afhX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EBB W'ORKMAN.

Witnesses M. N. MURRAY, Emma RoBER'rs. 

